Pro-Turkey House representative croaks

[wh00t]

Floyd Spence (D-SC) died at 73 yesterday. He was seen as a supporter of Turkish issues and was given an "F" grade by ANCA (based on friendliness towards Armenian issues).

 

[ August 17, 2001: Message edited by: wh00t ]

[MJ]

When are you throwing a party, Wh00t?

[wh00t]

MJ, I am shocked and offended you would suggest such a thing.

P.S. Saturday at 8:00pm. Bring booze.

[MJ]

I hope you are kidding, wh00t, about being offended. A winkle would've been appropriate in your posting.

[wh00t]

Was the "P.S. Saturday at 8pm" note not enough of a giveaway for you?

[MJ]

Nope. If it come to giveaways, please be more generous.

[Paul bunyan]

Jessie Helms, another turky is said to be ailing, and might not run again

Republican North Carolina, Elizabeth Dole, wife of Robert Dole a good friend of Armenia, will run for his

seat in the senate. well, well, well,

[wh00t]

It keeps getting better, PLUS the Armenian Caucus is at 101 members this year (most ever?) with another rep who promised to join.

 

Update: Excuse me. As of today, rep. Steve Israel (NY) has joined the caucus, making the number 102.

 

[ August 17, 2001: Message edited by: wh00t ]

[wh00t]

Awwwww, come on.. what else do you think that note could have meant? I thought I had made a good joke.

[MosJan]

Es Qelexi gorts ka ?

es Qelex ek utum dzen cheq talis

MOvses

[MJ]

Relaaax, wh00t, and smile.

[khodja]

For too long the more progressive Armenians among us, the college professors, the scientists, the psychologists, etc. have been badgered into silence by the more conservative Armenians, the merchants and the religious leaders. Now that we are asserting ourselves in the US and Western Europe, our causes have been helped. That is why we were able to reach the whole political spectrum in France, EU and the US.I will never again allow the more conservative members of my family to silence me. It is because of the activism of the more leftist Armenians that we have achieved much lately.

[MJ]

In my view, the Armenian history of the last 100 years is history of leftism. Never, before 1991 Armenian rightist have had any influence on the Armenian issues or the Armenian society.

 

After 1991, the Armenian political spectrum has moved slightly right-of-the-center. And only because of that, the Armenian politics and mentality has started to make some sense.

 

Additionally, I think that the Armenian leftism doesn’t have much to do with the progressivism, and it is a reflection of a very backward and traditional mentality in Armenian life. Moreover, it is very inaccurate to attribute whatever success we have had lately to the leftism.

[khodja]

while Armenains history for the past 100 years may not be one of rightism, Armenian political activism in teh US has been primarily one of rightism. The more progressive Armenian- Americans have been consistently silenced by our merchant class and their partners in crime, the hierarchy of our churches. We have alienated many who are becoming our allies, as the more progressive among us assert themselves.

[MJ]

As much as I know the Diaspora, and I definitely am not specialist in it, whether in America or elsewhere, for almost 80 years it has been under the dominance of ARF, Social-Democrat Hnchagians - both quite leftist organizations, and only very partially under the influence of Ramgavars, which are a centrist organization.

 

As far as the Church goes, Echmiadzin was totally controlled by the Communists from Moscow, was formally lead by Catholicos Vasgen, who has been a staunt socialist and Marxist according to his own autobiography. As far as Anthilias goes, it has obviously been and remains under the total control of ARF.

 

Now, which rightest forces have controlled the Armenian Diaspora in America remains a mystery for me. Additionally, of all the known forces in the Armenian political spectrum, up to 1991, all the organizations except Ramgavars have been not only not progressive, but also reactionary, though some have quite ironically called themselves “arachadimakanner.”

 

With all this said, I definitely would be glad to see the Armenian intelligentsia not silenced anymore.

[khodja]

My perspective is from a purely American one, as I have not been involved in Armenian political affairs. As far as American politics goes, the field of Armenian-Americans has been dominated almost exclusively by Republicans and exceedingly conservative ones. It is only of late that any Armenian Democrats have surfaced, notably Congressperson Eshoo, South Carolina Dem leader Harpootlian and state representatives in Massachusetts and California.

[MJ]

OK. Now I get you. But the matter of the fact is that the acadmeia in the entire world is left leaning. It is neither an American nor an Armenian phenomenon. And it is understandable. Academia is a state sponsored and taxpayer financed enterprise, by in large. However, to call the academicians, moreover, the other lefts progressives is a huge exaggeration, in my view, as much as calling the rightists backwards and the leftists progressive is a huge exaggeration.

 

As much as I understand the liberalism is not necessarily reflective of progressivism, and the conservatism is not reflective of backwardizm.

 

As far as the success of the Armenians in American life goes, attributing it to the leftism is another disproportionate exaggeration, with all due respect.

[khodja]

I was not referring to the success of Armenians in American life, but to the political success which was achieved by allowing the more liberal mebers of our community a voice. By muzzling their voices all these years false impressions had been created, that we are all conservative and highly traditional. Therefore the Republicans took us for granted while the Democrats did not realize how much suppport they had in our community.

[MJ]

Somehow I still am not convinced.

[khodja]

Just look to the numbers and political affiliations of the members of the US Congress who were ready to vote for the Genocide Resolution last fall. That should convince you of the validity of my argument.

[MJ]

Actually this one makes it more invalid.

[khodja]

Buddhist saying "What is the sound of one hand clapping?" The majority of Congresspersons supporting the Armenian Genocide Resolution were Democrats. With all due respect, that would make my point valid not invalid.

[MJ]

I think the getting of more support from Democrats than from Republicans in the area of the Genocide recognition itself attests to the fact that Armenians have traditionally been more involved in Democratic party than in Republican. Other than the underlying logic., this is a fact. I don't see how can one contest it. Even the Ramgavars have been strongly supportive of the Democratic Party rather than Republican.